Why are Family Courts NOT Considering the ACE Study When Rendering Custody?

Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACE) Study

Batterers have been gaining custody at a rate of 70-85% of the time in contested cases (American Judges' Foundation). The cost of society IGNORING abuse exceeds $333 BILLION annually just in healthcare alone not taking into the account of the cost to the prison system, welfare, Medicaid, housing etc. (CDC, 2013) The cost may be as high as $750 BILLION, because even in a medical setting, patients routinely deny their partner’s abuse for safety and other reasons. (Academy on Violence and Abuse, 2009) "The economic burden rivals the cost of other high profile public health problems, such as stroke and Type2 diabetes." (CDC, 2014) The United States spends over one trillion dollars on health care, crime and economic loss annually as a result of domestic violence.  This is in effect an abuser subsidy.  Best practices based on the Quincy Model would quickly save $500 billion annually of this expense.  (Goldstein)

Want to know why the cost of healthcare so high? The failure of family court to properly conduct early intervention, medical professionals improperly coding domestic violence, and protect the victim of abuse is one reason and based on our research the number reported by the CDC is grossly under-reported.  The medical community is beginning to recognize the seriousness of screening for interpersonal violence, but still fails to address the proper coding. (Skolink & Clouse, 2014)

Why do I say that? I attended a conference at Harvard University sponsored by the Massachusetts Department of Public Health in 2009 where the Department of Public Health said that it was costing the state of Massachusetts taxpayer $15 million a year to treat victims of domestic violence.  I asked where the Department of Public Health got that statistic and their reply was based on what's called a CPT billing code for domestic violence and mostly due to emergency room visits.

We looked at our data with the cases that we have to see if any of our cases were reflected in that data.  We had over 20+ cases the time just families involved in domestic violence related custody cases in family court. When you add the children involved, that number increases to 80 cases and not one of those cases were factored into the numbers being reported to the Department of Public Health despite medical reports documenting abuse.

The ongoing ACE study is the longest study that start in 1997 with over 17,000 participants (Kaiser Permanente, 1998-2006). The study focuses on childhood abuse, neglect, and exposure to other traumatic stressors which is termed adverse childhood experiences (ACE).  The short- and long-term outcomes of these childhood exposures revealed a multitude of health and social problems. Those who adversely affected are at higher risk for the following health problems:

·         Alcoholism and alcohol abuse

·         Cancer

·         Aids

·         Diabetes

·         Eating disorders

·         Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD)

·         Depression

·         Fetal death

·         Health-related quality of life

·         Illicit drug use

·         Ischemic heart disease (IHD)

·         Liver disease

·         Risk for intimate partner violence

·         Multiple sexual partners

·         Sexually transmitted diseases (STDs)

·         Smoking

·         Suicide attempts

·         Unintended pregnancies

·         Early initiation of smoking

·         Early initiation of sexual activity

·         Adolescent pregnancy

Furthermore, as a result of systemic failures of early intervention, researchers found that high levels of symptoms of mental health issues such as anxiety, depression, and PTSD to be directly linked to domestic abuse after reviewing 67 relevant studies. (King's College London and University of Bristol, 2013) Those with diagnosed with anxiety disorders were more than 3.5 times more likely to have suffered domestic abuse. For those diagnosed with PTSD or post-traumatic stress disorder were even seven times more at risk.

“In one long-term study, as many as 80 percent of young adults who had been abused met the diagnostic criteria for at least one psychiatric disorder at age 21. These young adults exhibited many problems, including depression, anxiety, eating disorders, and suicide attempts” (Silverman et al., 1996). (CDC, 2014)

 

Are fathers getting their fair share in family court? My answer is abusers in general have the upper hand in court. Good parents and children are losing to the racket of family courts. Victims of abuse are routinely being harmed with staggering statistics for long term damage and cost to the tax payer for the family courts failures. The statistical information, data and numbers can not be ignored.

We think we have a health care and economic problem now? Unless something is done about how family courts render custody to abusers, the economic toll to the tax payer will be devastating. It is time to stop ignoring the issues victims of abuse face every day and start becoming a part of the solution. Whether we realize it or not, by ignoring the problem directly impact our children, our families, our communities and our wallets.

To read more about the over 24 year compilation of research on Massachusetts Family Courts and Abuse, please visit my sister blog in a Letter To Jeff Kuhner on whether or not Fathers Are Getting Their Fair Stake in Family Courts

CDC: Cost of Child Abuse and Neglect Rival Other Major Public Health Problems

NOTE: When are we going to wake up and realize the lack of intervention by way of family courts are a BIG contributor to these stats? T he research on the last 24 years of current family court system in Massachusetts since the Gender Bias Study of Massachusetts Courts in 1990 has not changed much at all if any.

The United States spends over one trillion dollars on health care, crime and economic loss annually as a result of domestic violence.

The statistical information, data and numbers can not be ignored. Read the stats here.

We think we have a health care and economic problem now? Unless something is done about how family courts render custody to abusers, the economic toll to the tax payer will be devastating. It is time to stop ignoring the issues victims of abuse face every day and start becoming a part of the solution. Whether we realize it or not, by ignoring the problem directly impact our children, our families, our communities and our wallets. 

CDC:  Injury Center: Violence Prevention : Cost of Child Abuse and Neglect Rival Other Major Public Health Problems

Child maltreatment is a serious and prevalent public health problem in the United States. In fiscal year 2008, U.S. state and local child protective services (CPS) received more than 3 million reports of children being abused or neglected—or about 6 complaints per minute, every day. An estimated 772,000 children were classified by CPS authorities as being maltreated and 1,740 children aged 0 to 17 died from abuse and neglect in 2008.

The financial costs for victims and society are substantial. A recent CDC study, The Economic Burden of Child Maltreatment in the United States and Implications for Prevention, found the total lifetime estimated financial costs associated with just one year of confirmed cases of child maltreatment (physical abuse, sexual abuse, psychological abuse and neglect) is approximately $124 billion.

Published in Child Abuse and Neglect, The International Journal, the study looked at confirmed child maltreatment cases—1,740 fatal and 579,000 non-fatal—for a 12-month period. Findings show each death due to child maltreatment had a lifetime cost of about $1.3 million, almost all of it in money that the child would have earned over a lifetime if he or she had lived. The lifetime cost for each victim of child maltreatment who lived was $210,012, which is comparable to other costly health conditions such as stroke with a lifetime cost per person estimated at $159,846 or type 2 diabetes, which is estimated between $181,000 and $253,000.

A promising array of prevention and response programs have great potential to reduce child maltreatment. Given the substantial economic burden of child maltreatment, the benefits of prevention will likely outweigh the costs for effective programs.

http://www.cdc.gov/violenceprevention/childmaltreatment/economiccost.html

Abuser Seeking To Terminate Parental Rights of Protective Mother Inlcuding Third Party

I was recently in court on reduction of child support since the current child support order orders over 60% of my pay in child support PLUS attorney's fees or I will face a 6mo prison sentence on April 16, 2014 despite my current disabilities, unemployment, and efforts made to comply with current order prohibiting me and my ability to survive at a basic minimum. It shall be noted that I made numerous attempts to file this motion since June 2013 with stall tactics by the courts and refusal to allow the filing til after August 2013. I waited over nine months to be heard with constant threat of imprisonment every time I went to court. Where is fair due process?

While in court, my abuser verbally petitioned the court to terminate all my parental rights. The judge and my ex tried to get to me agree to the termination in court without legal representation and without the offer in writing despite my reluctance to make such a harsh decision.

What is ironic despite the ludicrousness of this, my abuser has only cared about money as demonstrated by actions throughout the time I have known the man. This also includes the admitted theft of several financial accounts including my father, putting him in Chapter 7 Bankruptcy. He has NEVER demonstrated any actions that were the best interests of the children as evidenced at trial and court documents.

It is bad enough he is now petitioning to terminate my parental rights, but another thing to petition the court to hold me accountable for any third party actions.

Excerpts As follows on February 25, 2014:

"In an effort to totally resolve the issues which continually bring you and Mr. Joseph to Probate Court, Mr. Joseph proposes the following:

1. You are to have no contact, i.e. no meetings, no phone calls, no texts, no presents, no gifts, no emails, no letters, no third-party contact, no communication of any nature, with any of the children until each attains the age of 18 years old. At that time you may contact each 18 year old daughter as they and you agree, or not.
2. (8) ... The parties further agree that they will not cooperate with any 3rd party who may attempt to bring legal suit against either party for monies owed.
3. (9) You will not post anything of any nature regarding the children, Mr. Joseph, or his wife Andrea in writing. This includes, but not limited to, the Internet, websites, articles, or blogs.

Failure of you to adhere to the terms of a signed Agreement, containing the provisions in this letter, will result in reinstatement of all monies owed, including but not limited to $55.00 per week from the date of the original Order from Judge Roberts. In other words, if you comply with the Agreement when you owe him nothing and if you should breach the Agreement, then you will owe all the money that you presently owe plus $55.00 per week that you would have had to pay in the absence of this Agreement."

First of all ... after my ex slipped in a one liner in my divorce decree at the signing table that says that I will indemnify him harmless for any monies owed to my father. At the time I assumed it was regarding a $3,000 car loan we still owed my father for Saturn we bought. I had NO IDEA he was referencing that I indemnify him harmless in an actually criminal act of stealing my father's entire life savings. He later admitted in a testimony in Court in 2012 to taking the money and using it for personal use. The check was made out to him personally and they VERY withdrawal form from my father's account was in my abuser's handwriting. Therefore, acting as my father's securities representative without a license to do so and using the money for personal use not as he said he would by investing it for my father. The family court judge who overheard this case and the evidence supplied to the courts demonstrating a crime had committed did nothing...not even a forward to the DA's office for investigation.

I learned my lesson from that horrible experience. To this day I still harbor enormous guilt that 1) I married a man who could do such a horrible thing to my father who was so good to him 2) I did not know what had transpired until after the act was done. I would never have signed such a document if I knew what happened. 3) later finding out how verbally abusive my ex was every time my elderly father inquired to the status of his monies. My father worked hard for his money and is at a time in his life he should be enjoying life and semi-retired, not still trying to keep a roof over his head at 73.

I will not repeat that same mistake again. I will NOT sign away any third party rights to go after my abuser civilly or criminally. I learned my lesson the last time. That clause has NOTHING to do with my parental rights. Clearly by the mere fact he added that statement in there, I must know something or some legal action has already ensued that I am not aware of as of yet. Just like the last time when I signed my divorce decree.

If all my abuser has been seeking since I have known him, is money then why all of a sudden is he willing to waive it NOW after asking the judge on at least 4 occasions in the last year to incarcerate me for six months while falsifying evidence and refuting 100% compliance with orders at that time?

What is it that he is so insistent that I do "not cooperate with any third party"? Does this include do not speak to the FBI or State of Massachusetts or IRS or SEC etc who may contact me. These are all agencies I know there are possible pending legal actions.

So what if the children's godparents, cousins, grandparents, uncles, aunts,  or agencies like DCF contact them, and I am held responsible for their actions? Termination of MY parental rights does not preclude the rights of any third party and I can NOT nor will I be held accountable for any third party actions as I can not control that.

So  if I understand this correctly, I post that I miss my children on my facebook page and may even post a #throwbackthursday picture constitutes violating this agreement?

Your thoughts on the topic would be greatly appreciated.  Thank you

How Does Attorney Arabasz Know I Am Going To Jail on May 22nd?

Yesterday (May 13, 2013) while at the Hingham District Court where I filed for a harassment protection against Attorney Raymond Arabasz, he stated to the district court judge "she is going to jail on May 22nd".

QUESTION???????

How could Attorney Arabasz possibly  know this to be fact?

If fact ..... it could only be true if one of the two things occurred...

1. Either a backroom deal was done before my right to a fair hearing
2. OR he just made another threat.

Mind you ... this was stated under oath.

Can someone please help me find out HOW Attorney Arabasz knows for a fact that I WILL DEFINITELY be heading to prison on May 22nd as he so stated in a court of law?